Freedom of Speech and Islam.

• Author: Yerlikaya, Turgay
• Position: Book review

Freedom of Speech and Islam

Edited by Erich Kolig

England and USA: Ashgate, 2014, 262 pages, $102.20, ISBN: 9781472424020.

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There have been many debates about whether Islam and democracy are compatible. Freedom of speech issues, and debates about the nature of Islam abound in recent times. The cartoon crises of recent years, the Charlie Hebdo attack and other developments have led to a widening of the debate. The compilation of Freedom of Speech and Islam by Erich Kolig deals with the issue of freedom of expression, which is one of the most important principles for the West, along with the reactions of Muslims to various events. Examples like the Salman Rushdie incident, the Danish cartoon crisis, and the film Innocence of Muslims are addressed by the various contributors to this book. The book consists of nine chapters beginning with a preface by the editor.

In the first chapter, entitled "Why Is Freedom of Speech a Problem for So Many Muslims?" and penned by Christopher J. Van der Krogt, freedom of speech is considered alongside the concept of religious freedom. In his criticisms of Sharia implementations in some countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Nigeria, the author underlines the need for Muslims to make a decision: either Muslims will remove judicial cases such as blasphemy, heresy and apostasy by adopting modern values, or they will continue to legally enforce these rules of moral conduct. Emphasizing that in the West, people can change their religion freely with the removal of these concepts and the adoption of modern values, Knogt draws attention to the achievement of secularism and Enlightenment. Emphasizing the differences between the West and Islam in terms of freedom of speech, he states that although there is not a structure like the church in Islam, Islam is not very successful in tolerating nonOrthodox ideas. Illustrating his position with theological concepts such as apostasy, and legislation such as the jizyah tax, the author appears more inclined to insert radical and negative examples.

In the third chapter, "Balancing Freedom of Speech and the Rights of Muslim Minority Groups in the Australian Context," Ghena Krayem states that her target is to historically explore what kind of responses Muslims have taken in regard to insults toward their Prophet. The author argues that freedom of speech is not an ultimate right, and that restrictions can be imposed, within reason, through consideration of...